Do Portable Saunas Really Work

Infrared saunas have exploded onto the scene in the last couple of years, but the reality is they have been around for a long time with a lot of success. What is becoming more known are the positive health benefits associated with using an infrared sauna. And the portable infrared sauna is no different. 

Having said that, the traditional 1-2-3 person and bigger sized infrared saunas, for some, are way too big for their home, or they’re out of budget for some. So an alternative to this is a portable infrared sauna.

So in this article, we are going to cover a number of things regarding portable infrared saunas, especially the big question for today. Do portable infrared saunas really work? And are they actually worth the cost? We’ll look into those questions and a little more.

Straight to the point here, not stuffing around. The answer is yes. Portable infrared saunas actually do work. They work exactly the same as a normal sized infrared sauna, but with some considerations that we will go into below. 

Are you looking into a home therapy solution that not only relaxes you but also helps you to stay healthy with loads of energy?

Would you like a spa treatment similar to what you would experience at your local spa without the price tag? This is where a portable infrared sauna might be a suitable option for you.

What’s The Difference Between A Traditional Infrared Sauna And A Portable Sauna

The good news is they work in the exact same way as a traditional full-size sauna does. As you can probably tell. The difference is in the size and the structure. A portable sauna has a tent-like design, but as I said they work the same way.

Below we have put together more information about portable saunas and their benefits. I will break everything down for you to understand. This will be beneficial for anyone looking for a good alternative to a full-size sauna, this might be your solution. If that’s what you’re looking for. Let’s take a look.

What Is A Portable Infrared Sauna?

I’m sure you have seen them, they look like a little tent. They can be folded for easy storage and can pretty much be taken anywhere you wish, hence the portable aspect of them. They don’t look the best but for what they do they are very handy. But most who use an infrared sauna do so for what they do, not how they look.

How Do Portable Infrared Saunas Work?

They are very easy to use. All you need is a small area to set them up. You set up a chair inside the sauna. Put the sauna in place,  hop in the sauna and when you’re ready you zip it up. Once you’re all in place you turn on the sauna with your remote and you should be good to go.

Once you turn it on the interior of the sauna tent will start to heat up. There will be an infrared heating system inside the tent. Then you stay put till you’re ready to get out. 

 The Portable Infrared Sauna

There are a number of different types of portable infrared sauna you can get, the infrared is probably the most common of the lot and in most cases the best choice. The sauna’s heat works by heating up inside the tent through the use of a heating element. The infrared heat is a dry type of heat, so there is no steam. It’s been likened to the charcoal style sauna if you’re familiar with that. 

Having said that the charcoal heat might have a system in place to create steam or moisture, something infrared heat won’t have. And it doesn’t need to as it’s a totally different type of heat. And in reality, you wouldn’t want to be in a tent that has hot coals inside, I know I wouldn’t.

What Is Infrared Heat?

For anyone not sure on what infrared heat. I’d like to quickly go over it here. 

Anything that is infrared uses heat, especially infrared saunas. The heat is generated or created by panels within the sauna. They work to generate and emit heat directly to your body with the use of panels. This is done instead of heat that is generated by steam as a traditional sauna would. The two are very different.

The difference is. Infrared heat is what is called radiant heat, and it heats the body directly, whereas steam heats the area around you which is what is called convection heat.

Infrared vs. Ultraviolet Spectrum

Before we move ahead I quickly wanted to cover the differences between infrared and ultraviolet, as there can be some confusion.

I asked my mother the other day would you use an infrared sauna as she suffers from arthritis and muscle recovery issues. And she said straight away NO. She thought infrared was the same as ultraviolet, thinking it was the same as those tanning beds that have been banned in some places because of the issues with causing cancer.

This is where not understanding the differences can cause that misconception with infrared heat. Ultraviolet rays can, as you may know, be very harmful. The heat used in those tanning beds is the same heat generated by the sun. 

The difference is infrared heat doesn’t have the UV rays that the tanning beds and the sun generates, making it very safe for us to be exposed to.

We all know growing up it was good to get some sun into us. The sun is energy and we needed some of it. The big issue was getting too much, with the UV.  

Portable Infrared Sauna Benefits

There are a number of benefits to using and having a portable infrared sauna, and I’m not referring to any health benefits. Although they do play a role I just want to list the actual benefits to owning a portable infrared sauna at home.

These benefits are unique to only the portable sauna. 

They Are Compact 

One of the best things about having your own portable sauna is the size of them. They are a great option for anyone who has a small apartment or room that could never fit a normal size sauna in. For example, a 1-2 bedroom apartment is pretty small. Fitting a normal size sauna in there wouldn’t be the best idea.

This is where the portable sauna is ideal. You can set it up in the kitchen or even on a balcony. And when you’re done you can pack it away for safe storage. Making it the ideal sauna for anyone with space issues which has to be a bonus.

This might sound obvious but I wouldn’t set it up on the carpet. It’s a safety hazard and if something happened it could cause a fire. 

To set it up it does take a few minutes and the same with taking it down. But overall it’s a small price to pay for the bliss and relaxation you’ll get when you’re done. 

They Are Very Cost-Effective

This again is a pretty big benefit for the budget-conscious. Portable infrared saunas are pretty cheap compared to a traditional sized sauna. And the great thing is you’re not compromising on the results you can get. 

The portable saunas do come in different sizes and some offer more features than others. Just like anything you can go for the lower end or pay a little more for quality and better features.

They’re Easy To Use

These types of saunas are easy to use. Like anything, the first time is always the hardest as you’re trying to sort it all out. But once you get the hang of it you’ll have no issues using it again and again. Once you’re ready you sit on the chair provided, zip yourself up, turn on the heat using the controller and you’re off.

They Are Portable

Amazing, you would have never guessed. This one is pretty obvious I know, but it’s a good benefit at that. What if you’re a traveller? Well, this is a great option for you as you can take it wherever you go. Yep, you could set it up in the hotel room if you needed to. Or you go on a vacation, great, you can also take it with you. 

That’s definitely something you can’t do with a traditional sauna, imagine taking that on vacation. You’d look a little silly.

Disadvantage Of Portable Infrared Saunas

Like anything, there are always a few things that are not ideal. So below I’ll list the not so good benefits.

You Need To Set It Up Every Time You Use It. 

This is not really an issue but something to mention. And I’m sure your totally aware of it and understand this totally. 

Once Your Setup In Your Sauna Tent That’s It.

Again this is something I know you’re probably aware of, but it’s a disadvantage in a way. Just make sure you’re all set up before you jump in. If you need to get water or a snack while you’re in your sauna get that all ready beforehand. And don’t forget your towel. 

Your Head Is Exposed

Again not a game-breaker. This for some could be an issue. Especially if you’ve had a full infrared sauna experience before. But again for what you’re getting and the versatility of the sauna, it’s not a deal-breaker. Some could even see this as a benefit.

Do Portable Saunas Really Work?

Well, when we consider all the information I’ve just mentioned with all the benefits and the so-called disadvantages, you would have to say yes. Portable infrared saunas do work. They have a lot of benefits that other saunas don’t have and they’re a unique product all on their own.

If you consider the portability of it. The compact size of it. The affordability aspect. The numbers add up. In our eyes, they offer great value for money.  

If you think one of these saunas might be the best option for you, please check out our thoughts on what we feel to be the best portable infrared saunas.